IELTS Writing Task 2 essay with model answer

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic

Cities are getting big and overcrowded. Give some CAUSES and suggest the SOLUTIONS needed.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer:

With the increase in the global trend of urbanization, cities are expanding. As a result, cities are becoming congested and overpopulated. This essay will throw some light on why this trend is so common these days and how it can be prevented.

People from rural areas migrate to cities in search of a stable life for their families. No doubt, there are much more facilities in urban areas than in a village. For instance, one can find many job opportunities in big cities. Secondly, children can have access to better education system in cities. However, accommodating large number of people requires vast area. This results in constructions inside the city as well as outside to expand the area. A fascinating example of this can be seen in Saudi Arabia,where, as they could not expand the city towards the desert dessert, they had to artificially fill the sea to make space for existing population.

But as prevention is better than cure, certain steps should be taken now before it's too late. Government should encourage people from rural areas to stay at their place. This can be done by providing them with basic life facilities in the rural places. For example, better schools in villages can ensure that children are getting quality education. Furthermore, since this will require educated teachers, jobs in such areas will increase too. Last but not least, government should install factories in the vicinity of village so that people can have better job options at walking distance from their home.

The points I have hitherto considered, lead me to the inevitable conclusion that although different factors are contributing to the expansion of cities, the trend can definitely be controlled. Government and individuals should focus on the root causes and work on them together to solve the issue.